Paul Hits Grand Slam

Madonna Center Fielder Has Her Break-Out Game

May 7, 2014

WHEELING - Madonna softball coach Chris Conti had been waiting for Amanda Paul to have a break-out game.

The center fielder came through Tuesday.

Paul went 3-for-3 with a grand slam in the bottom of the second as Madonna rolled to a 11-2, five-inning victory against Bishop Donahue in a Class A, Region I, Section I opener.

The senior's shot over the left-field fence broke a 2-2 tie and sent the Bishops (7-14) into a win-or-go-home scenario with top-seeded Wheeling Central at 5 p.m. today.

"Amanda's been hitting for me all year," Conti said. "She's a very good athlete and it was just her day. She came out and played the way I know she knows how to play. She made some great plays on defense, too."

Overshadowed by the Blue Dons offense, which produced nine hits, was winning pitcher Amanda Pulice, who allowed only four hits.

"She pitched well," Conti said. "She hit her spots good and kept them a little off-balanced. She kept the ball down and we made the routine plays for her."

While the Blue Dons (13-8), who will play tonight's winner in the sectional championship, ran off the field celebrating, Bishop coach Curt Mele was left baffled. Donahue seemed to be hitting its stride as it forced St. John into extra innings in an OVAC quarterfinal and came up one run shy of knocking off the eventual OVAC champion in its previous outing.

"After the way we've been playing, our last three or four games, I felt good coming into the game," Mele said. "I thought we would build on that momentum. We were just not the same team (Tuesday). Madonna hit the ball, but nothing that we don't practice at everyday.

"We just didn't make the routine play. You have to make those routine plays especially in tournament time and Madonna took advantage of our errors."

Following two Donahue errors to start the second, Annie Magnone singled in Aubrey Platek to tie it 2-2. A Becca Holt hit and an error at third left the bases loaded to set up Paul's slam.

Madonna's offense kept rolling in the third as Thompson scored on a groundout and Magnone singled in Platek before Paul plated Magnone and then stole home.

Platek doubled in Thompson for the last run in the fourth.

Taylor Koontz had a two run hit in the second to give the Bishops its only lead, 2-1.

River 17, Beallsville 0

BEALLSVILLE -Gabby Goudy pitched her fifth career no-hitter and second of the season as River blanked Beallsville.

Goudy retired 11 on strikes for the Pilots (23-3) and Emelie Heater went 4-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.

Alexis Piatt had a three-run home run and McKenzie Marshall had a RBI triple.

Abby Shallow took the loss for the Bulldogs (4-16).

Barnesville 10, Linsly 0

BARNESVILLE -Shaylyn Giesey tripled twice and knocked in two runs as Barnesville blanked Linsly in five innings.

Sydney Ralson earned a victory as she fanned seven for the Shamrocks (7-11) and Michaela George tripled in a run.

Edison 8, Bellaire 5

BELLAIRE - Zoe Westfall stuck out seven and stranded the bases loaded three times as Edison (7-12) downed Bellaire (13-7) in a game that featured 10 errors.

Kayli Stewart and Lynsey Morrison had an RBI single each for the Wildcats. Madison Hunter had two hits and plated a run.

MacKenzie Conroy (two singles, double) and Sarah MacAnich (single) had an RBI each for the Big Reds. Mary Garloch and Elisha Gillespie contributed two singles apiece. McAnich took a loss, striking out six.

Cambridge 16, Meadowbrook 9

BYESVILLE - Cambridge exploded for 24 hits as it beat Meadowbrook.

Haylee Stocker had four hits and drove in two runs for the Bobcats (12-7) and Justine Lowe earned a victory.

Annie Ewert doubled among three hits and plated three runs for the Colts (8-14).